Computer Numerical Control (CNC) technology has revolutionized industries that rely on machining processes, notably bringing both efficiency and precision to manufacturing operations. CNC turning is one such process – a versatile method very much in demand due to its ability in producing complex components with outstanding accuracy. On another note, rivets, an essential industrial component, used widely for fastening purposes feature various types catering to different applications. In this article, we delve into the nuances of CNC turning and explore diverse types of rivets.
Let’s turn our attention first to CNC turning. The technique involves a cutting tool, usually non-rotatory, which removes material from rotating workpieces to shape them as desired. Various factors including dimensions, face & taper cuts, grooving or boring aspect are programmed employing a CNC machine, reducing human intervention considerably.
Producing any product using CNC turning begins with thorough planning and designing phase followed by setting up the CNC machine aptly. The operator then uploads the geometric CAD drawings of the part to be manufactured. These designs prompt the machine about how the piece should look after completion. Post uploading, the design follows a conversion into certain mathematical instructions, or G-codes, which will guide the machine throughout the production journey facilitating superior command over speed, location, coordination, etc., providing intricate details easily.
For quality assurance, trials are run before initiating mass production. Once satisfied with the prototype, materials like metal rods are set on the lathe while under high-speed rotation – all controlled through computer commands following the uploaded program. As the material rotates at varying speeds, the cutting tool strategically carves away excess material according to predefined specifications creating finished products or parts uniformly each time with minimal error.
As brilliant is the art of CNC turning, so are rivets in carving their own niche in several industries. Rivets essentially are mechanical fasteners comprising of a smooth cylindrical shaft with a head on one end. When installed, the tail is deformed or bucked up to hold objects together.
The production of rivets typically requires high-quality materials such as steel, aluminum or copper which are sourced and inspected for quality control ensuring their durability and strength. Followed by this initial step, billets or rods made out of these materials undergo extrusion – pushed through dies that shape them into long rods featuring various diameters according to product requirements. These then undergo cold forming with heavy industrial machinery applying tons of pressure helping shape the material without heating it, thus preserving its inherent properties.
Rivet types vary notably – The most common being the solid/round head rivet, widely used in shipbuilding and structural steelwork owing to their robustness. Then we have semi-tubular rivets that provide a stronger join than blind rivets, largely employed in automotive and electronics industries. Additionally, blind rivets find usage where only one side of an item needs fastening like in tight spaces, handy in aeroplane manufacture, among others. There’s also the pop (also called breakstem) rivet, having a wide grip range, particularly lauded in construction applications. Other kinds include drive rivets, oscar rivets, flush rivets, self-piercing rivets & friction-lock rivets each catering to niche industry sectors.
Summing it all up, CNC turning along with riveting form two core pillars in modern manufacturing processes. While the former art revels in creating precision-oriented products consistently, the latter focuses on joining those created pieces securely, sustaining function over time. As advancing technology paints a bright future for both techniques, their prominence within industries seems set to continue soaring expeditiously.
